A Region on Edge
After more than a month of confrontation and tension—accompanied simultaneously by negotiations and military buildup—Israel and the United States launched coordinated attacks on Iran on February 28, 2026, marking a significant escalation in the region. Meanwhile, another conflict—between Pakistan and Afghanistan—that has received far less media attention has also escalated into open clashes in recent days, and its future trajectory remains uncertain.
As I write this, I have just exchanged messages of safety with local friends and coworkers in the Middle East. Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar have all been affected by the flames of war. Some of our coworkers were preparing to return to their places of service, but their flights were canceled, leaving them unable to go home. Many Christian organizations with personnel in the Middle East have now entered crisis-response mode. Organizational leaders are holding meetings and forming crisis committees to discern how best to respond in such a volatile situation.
What is different from last year’s twelve-day war is this: apart from the United States delivering a final strike by bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities and Qatar being indirectly affected, last year’s conflict primarily consisted of mutual airstrikes between Israel and Iran—symbolic and declarative more than a full-scale war. This year, however, Iran’s theocratic government faces both internal and external pressures. After its bloody suppression of protesters, it has lost much of its political legitimacy and now stands at a critical crossroads. Israel’s Netanyahu also faces pressure from domestic opponents and is deeply convinced that the Iranian regime poses an extreme threat to Israel’s right to exist.
In short, both sides see this war as a matter of regime survival. Under such ideological opposition, a comprehensive conflict seems difficult to avoid. Yet at the same time, we firmly believe that God remains sovereign. He loves every lost soul in the Middle East and watches over his followers there.
Chinese Believers in a Complex Landscape
In recent years, through God’s work, more and more Christians have moved to the Middle East with a sense of calling, living and working there and bearing witness to the Lord in their daily lives. Among them are many Chinese brothers and sisters. Because of the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese citizens are relatively able to enter Middle Eastern countries that maintain good relations with China.
In such a geopolitically complex and sensitive environment as the Middle East, because of how they are perceived, Chinese believers sometimes have greater freedom of movement than Western coworkers in certain countries that are hostile toward the West—especially toward the United States. However, in times of war and unrest, the threat of violence makes no distinction based on nationality. Depending on the passports they hold, Chinese brothers and sisters in different Middle Eastern countries may each face distinct and difficult circumstances.
A Season of Prayer
At present, it is Ramadan in the Muslim world and Lent for Christians—a season that ought to be devoted to spiritual pursuit, prayer, and seeking God. Here, I invite brothers and sisters to join together during this Lenten season to keep watch and intercede for the Middle East and for Chinese brothers and sisters there.
Prayer Requests
- Pray that God would grant wisdom and compassion to those in authority who are involved in the war, so that when making decisions they would not prioritize their own power and interests, but would cherish the lives of innocent civilians.
- Pray that God would give wisdom and discernment to the leaders of Christian organizations in the Middle East, so they may know when to ask their coworkers to remain and when to evacuate. Sometimes evacuation is not necessarily safer, and remaining is not necessarily more dangerous. Pray also that God would grant these leaders double strength and loving hearts to care for their coworkers in the Middle East.
- Pray that God would protect the Chinese brothers and sisters serving in the Middle East. May he grant them courage and faith and guard their coming and going. In certain regions, brothers and sisters can hear the sound of explosions. Pray especially for the psychological impact on children. Ask the Lord to grant them comfort, as well as resources and help for member care. Pray particularly for brothers and sisters currently in Israel, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. They are directly facing the impact of war and are unable to leave because airports are closed. Pray that God would protect their personal safety, grant them unexpected peace in the midst of hardship, and supply their daily needs. If, because of the war, Chinese brothers and sisters in the Middle East ultimately need to evacuate, pray that the Lord would give them peace in their hearts and free them from a sense of frustration or failure. Pray that their evacuation would proceed smoothly, and that they would not encounter difficulties at border crossings.
I firmly believe that even in the darkest moments, God is still at work. After the outbreak of war, I reached out to several local women friends in the Middle East. They expressed their worries and fears, and very naturally spoke of prayer and faith. In such a time of turmoil, may God himself work in the hearts of the local people, drawing them to seek the Lord of justice, mercy, and peace, and to turn to him.
